Lock-stitch sewing-machine.



E. ERICKSON.

LOCK snTcu szwma MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18, I911. 1,138,858, Patented May 11, 1915.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 2- WW1 4 Z a M E. ER'ICKSON.

LOCK STITCH SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION r1150 M16118, 1911.

1,138,858. Patented May 11, 1915.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 3- [1(0676Z01'2' A '02 wcur-dirdcksan 54, 74 4%. 4 fid/ln uim dwg zzu (ll/Z9 E. ERICKSONi LOCK STITCH SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18. m1.

Patented May 11, 1915.

9 SHIETS-SHEET 4- V E.- ERICKSON. LOCK STITCH SEWING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. I8, IQII.

lav/cud Eric/won ii E'EKCKSON LOCK SHJCH SEWING MACHINE.

awucmmu mm AUGJS. mu.

l ,138,858. Patented May 11, 1915.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

E. ERICKSON.

LOCK STITCH SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION r1150 AUGJB. 1911.

1,138,858. Patented May11,1915.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

E. ERICKSON. LOCK STITCH SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. l8| 1911.

1,138,858. I Patented May 11, 1915.-

9.5HEETS-SNEET 8.

MT? 6 Alf/M 5 LAM E. ERICKSDN.

LOCK STITCH SEWHG MACHINE, APPucumN mm mama, I941.

1,1 38,858. Patented May 11, 1915.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

jjvz/ezai EdwqnZErickso n SSIGNME'NTS, TOVICTOR SHOE .MA CHINERY.QOMBANY,QE B OQ'FCEI I .SE'ITS-,l a CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

LOCK-STITCH SEVVING-MACHINE.

' Sewing-Machines, of which the following is stantial-ly as, 'claimedag 1 specification. T

This' invention relates to machines for sewing heavyii'ia-terial such as leather, and refers particularly to that type "known as welt sewi'iigemachine'.

I The object ofthe in 'ention is to provide a'machine of this.characterwhich shall be simple in construction and operation, and

capableof high speed, due to improvements wheveby theiaction of the stitch forming 'inechanism isobtained direct from the operating .power. 1

To these ends theimention consists in the,

construction and combination of parts subhereinafter described and Ofthe accompanying draWings, Figure 1 is 'a front elevation of the machine coniplete. 1 Fig. 2- is an elevation from the left of F ig 1-. Fig; 3 is an elevation. from the right of 1.. Fig. 1 is.aplan View. Fig.

' 5 represents afse'ction on line 5-'5:of Fig. 1,

omitting the pitnian and some-other parts'. Fig. 6 represents a section on line 66 of' .Fig. 1. -Fig. 7 Q is an elevation of a portion of the interior of the lieadof the machine.

' ysectioiron line. 13+13 of F1g.','1.

-Fig. ,8 represents adetail, partly in section,

of the" needle carrier and? a portion of its actuator. F ig. 9 represents a section on line 9-9 of-Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is an elevation of the awlandits-carrier. Fig. 11 is a plan .qriew {0f thesame. .Fig: 12 represents a detail, partly in section on line 12 12, of Fig.

ez'ep 'esent-s a section on line lee-'14- of Fig.

5 13. Figs. l 5- and 1 6 are detail views of the .shuttleandflts gholder. Fig. 17is a detail .side elevation,.,pai tly in section, llustrating the jope'ration ofparts of the mechanism.

1 Fig. 18 isapelgspective iewof-some of the ,,mechanisni illustrated in Fig. 1 7, the parts nbei i ii iithe. sa i 'ie, r ,e1a ti\-'e positions as in 50.

Said, ei .;1,7. .1 i s', 19, 2o, s n-22:23 and 24.

Specification of Letters Patent.

trated, the base 30. is formed or provided 6..- .Fig...13 i-epresents a detaihpartly in Fig. 14-.

Patented May 11, 191-5.

Application filed August 18 1911. Serial E9. 644,769.

next following that illustrated in Fig. 26.

' Fig. .28 is a View similar to Fig. 17, but

illustratiifig the'position of the parts when- 60 stitch has been nearly completed and the loop of needle thread has. been drawn around the shuttle and just ready. to be pulled. away from the caster or spreader and tightened upon the work. 6?v

The same 'reference characters indicate ,the same or similar parts'in all of the views, In the embodiment of the invention illuswith two uprights or standards-31, 32, hav

ing bearings for a lower main or drive shaft 38 andan upper countershaft37,aiid'a fixed 1 shaft '38 on the latter-of which are mounted certain parts hereinafter described. The 7 main shaft hasapulley 3-1- for a powerdri i k ing belt, and has a crank intermediate its ends, to which crank is connected one end of a .p'itman 36 for actuating the awl and. needle as hereinafter described.

The upper portions 'of the standards are so formed or constructed that the two upper parallel'shafts 37, 38-are' out of parallelism with the lower main shaft, as best shown comparing Figs. 1,"2, 3' and 4. The main ,shaft 33 is provided'with a spi al gear 39 indicated by dotted lines in Figsg'i, 2 and 6, which meshes with aspiral gear 40 carried by a. yertical shaft 11, the latter havinga spiral-gear 42- at its upper end meshing with a similar gear 13 carried 'by one end of shaft 37 so that the latter is driven by the mainshaft. The other end of shaft 37 has, a'larger spiral gear 41 meshing with two pinions 15, 4-6, rotatably mounted on an arm 47 of standard 31. Thepinions 45, 46 are mounted to .IOtilt not iii the plane of gca'rl44 but at an acute angle'theret'o, for a purpose hereinafter described. Connectedto rotate ith the piiiions e5, 46, are crankarins 48, 49, having wrist pins 50 on which is mounted the shank -51 of loop spreader 52 which carries the loop of" needle thread aaround the shuttle; pies-- ently described, as indicated in Fig. 28. The relative sizes of the gear 44 and pinions 45, el-G, are three to one so that the loop spreader. revolves around the shuttle, three tiiiiesdurmg one rotation of the gear 44.. The otln.

gearing is such that the gear 44 revolves once during the formation of each stitch. The operation of the other members of the stitch forming mechanism, as will become apparent hereinafter, is such that one rotation of the loop spreader-52 is active and the other two idle. As clearly shown in Fig. 2, the construction is such that the loop spreader 52- moves in a circular path the radius of which is substantially the same as the length of thecrank arms l8, 19; as herenafter described, however it engages the needle thread only at a certain point of each third revolution.

The shuttle 53 (see Figs. 15 and 16), containing a bobbin 54 for the shuttle thread I), has a nose 55 through an aperture or eye 56 of which the thread is led (see Fig. 17). Exteriorly a portion. of the periphery of the shuttle is formed wedge shaped, the apex 57 of the wedge being substantially at the midwidth of the shuttle, as shown, in Fig. 15, this formation facilitating the parting or continued opening of the loop of needle thread after it has been taken by the spreader or caster, and is being drawn around the shuttle thereby. The shuttle holder comprises a box 58 carried by a.

bracket 59 secured to arm 17 (see Figs. 3, 7 and 15), and a movable cover or retainer comprising an arm 60 (see Figs. 1 and 2),

the shank 61 of which is mounted in standard 31 and has a handle 62 adapted to engage a pin 63 removably mounted in said standard. The arm 60 has an upwardly projecting spring lip 64. to lightly bear on the-shuttle 53, and a cross arm or plate65. To remove the shuttle, the pin 63 is moved so'that the handle 62 can be operated to rock the shank in its bearing to permit arm 60 to release the shuttle. A reverse ,of these movements will again confine the shuttle in its box. The front end of plate 65 is turned outwardly somewhat, and opposite, said end,.secured to the box 58 (see Figs. 3 and 7) is a lip 66. Said lip 66 and the front end of plate 65, extend outwardly from the shuttle holder sufliciently to insure the loop of needle thread, when carried upwardly by holder, the two sides of the loop passing on opposite sides of the shuttle. It will be observed that the shuttle 53 is positioned at an angle to the'gear 44;, and ln'orderto have the loop. spreader 52 properly co6perate therewith so that its operating end will move in the same plane as the front of said shuttle, it is necessary to have the loop spreader operating pini'ons' so pos tioned that they will rotate in a plane at an faculte angle to the gear 44 as heretofore described.-

-Before proceeding further with the description of the operations on the thread, I will explain the structure of the work feedthe spreader or caster 52, passingbetween them and not outside ofthe'.

standard. The work presser comprises an arm 71 having a foot 72 (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 1 and- 6) to bear on the work supported by arm 67, said arm having a hub 73 mounted'on a stud 71 supported by standard 32. An arm 75 projecting rearwardly from the hub 73 is provided with a toothed segment 76 which 7 8 (see also Fig. 5). Also secured to said shaft 78 is an eccentric 79 forming the fulcrum of the take-up level-80, having an arm 81 connected by a link 82 with alever 83 pivoted to standard 31 and carrying a roll 84 engaging a cam groove in disk 85 fixed meshes with a pinion 77 fast on rock shaft on shaft 33. This structure provides for I varying the operative position of the take up lever, according to the thickness of the work, because variations in the thickness of the work affect the rotative position of the eccentric 79,- through the arm 75, segment 76, pinion 77, andshaft 78. As the eccentric is shifted, it raises or lowers the axis of oscillation of take-up lever 80, thus practically adjusting the fulcrum of said lever. The angle of arm 81 relatively to link 82 is an obtuse one.

In assembling the various parts of the machine it is essential that when the presser foot 71 is in contact with the work su port 72 the fulcrum 79 will be so positione that the'initial. movement thereof in a contraclockwise direction when the presser foot is being raised to admit the work will cause then when the lever 80 is actuated by the 1 lever 83 the throw of said takeup lever -80 will be' materially decreased as the presser foot is raised by any increased thickness of wlork upon the support 72 and a shorter throw will be attained when there is any decrease in the. thickness of work. By this means with a uniform movement of the cam lever 83 a varied throw of the takeup lever 80 is assured, which will vary the amount of thread taken up in settingthe 2 more obtuse and stitches formed, it being understood that during the do wnwa'rd movement of the lever the members 170174 are in position to lock the thread and prevent further movement thereof from the source of supply.

To eifect the locking of the presser foot to hold the work tightly during the formation of each stitch, and to release it: during the feed of the work, I provide the following mechanism :--Secured to arm 75 is a segment rack 86, meshing with a pinion 87 having a sleeve hub 88 mounted on a crank or wrist pin 89 (see Fig. 12 in connection with Fig. 6) of a stud rock shaft 90'mounted vin standard 32 and carrying an arm 91 at its outer end. The arm 91 has a roll 92 engaging a cam groove 93 in a disk 94 secured to shaft 33, said cam groove being indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 6. On the .wrist pin 89, at the outer end of sleeve hub 88, is a collar 95 having a ratchet-toothed outer end face 96 engaged by a pin 97 projecting from said wrist pin. A spring 98 is coiled around, and has its ends connected to, the collar and hub so as to constitute a yielding connection between said two mem- -bers and cons qluently to cause the presser foot to bear y dingly on the work with a pressure thatmay be varied by adjustingthe collar rotatively the desired adjustment being maintained by the'pin 97 engaging one of the end teeth of the collar. Such yielding pressure however ceases when the and is penetrating the work. To interrupt this yielding pressure and cause the presser foot to remain immovably in position to re-, sist the force of the upwardly moving awl, I provide means for preventing rotation of the pinion 87 at the proper time. Mounted on the hub 88 are two collars 99 and 100, said collars inclosing a spring 101 which snugly fits the hub and has its two ends connected to the two collars so that relative rotation of the collars will tighten the spring on the hub to act as a clutch brake on the latter, or release it. The collar 99 has an arm 102 provided with a slot which receives a fixed pin 103, whereby said collar is prevented from rotating although it presents no obstruction to the lateral movement of the pinion hub 88 when the wrist pin is shifted. The other collar ,100 has an arm 104 connected by a link 105 with a lever 106 fulcrumed on a stud 107 and having a. roll 108 engaging a cam groove 109 in disk 94. Pivoted to the lever 106 at 110 is an arm 111 having a roll 112 engaging the outer surface of the rib which forms the outer wall of cam groove 109. The other end of the arm 111 is formed or provided with a yoke 113 which embraces an eccentric 114 (see dotted linesin Fig. 0) which is mounted on stud 107 and has an arm 115 which enters a notch H6 in a vertically movable bar 117 that is adapted to be lifted manually,.as by a suitable treadle, ,not shown. When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 6, the two rolls 108, 112, fol-. low the cam rib and'cause the leve; 106 to be so actuated that the collar 100 is rotated sufiiciently to tighten the spring 10.1. and prevent the presser foot from yielding excepting when the feed is taking place. The gripping effect of the coiled brake spring 101 is obtained'regardless of the thickness of the work. That is, when the presser foot is lifted for the introduction ofwork and then descends upon the work under the pressure of spring 98, it may occupy a higher or lower position according to the work. But the grip to hold it there will be just as effective whether the work be thick or thin.

The hub 73 of the presser foot arm or lever is provided with an arm 118 having a pin 119 which projects across the top of bar 117. l/Vhen the bar 117 is lifted, as when work is to be introduced, the -'action o'n arm 118 is such as to raise thep-resser foot 72-. Before this, however, the arm 115 is actuated'so as to rock the eccentric 114 and swing arrn 111 to throw the roll 112 outwardly and then as the cam disk-94 rotates, a recess 120 in the, inner wall of cam. groove 109 comes to a position opposite roll 108 so as to relieve outward pressure on said roll and thus relieve the braking effect of spring 101and permit the presser foot to be lifted by the further upward movement of bar 117.-

Referring to Figs- 8, 9, 10 and 11, in connection with Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4e and 6, the curved needle 121 is securedto a carrier 122 which is oscillated by the pitinan 36, said carrier having an arc slot 123, ,the purpose of which will be presently described. The needle car rier .122 is mounted on the hub 124 of the needle guide or support 125 which latter is, mounted to oscillate on the fixed stud 126 which is mounted in fixed bracket arms 127 and 128, and has a flange 129 provided with a pin 13.0 projecting laterally into a recess 131 formed in one end of the hub 124. The hub 12% is formed with a pocket for a roll 132 the diameter of which is greater than the thickness of said hub, the inner surface of the portion of the needlecarrier which is mounted on said hub 121 being formed with a shallow recess so that when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 8, the roll locks the said hub 12-1 and needle carrier together to cause the needle guide and needle to oscillate together. The surface of stud shaft-120 is formed with a depression or recess 133 which permits the roll 132 to recedefroin the needle carr er and unlock it from the hub 121 so that said carrier may oscillate on said hub while the latter remains stationary. This structure provides for a lost motion connection between the needle a'nd needle guide the latter being, howeyer, positively actuated by the.

' needle carrier,

needloparrier. The carrier 122 is provided with a in 134, one end of which extends into an arc-shaped recess 135 in a flanged .portion of the hub 124.

When the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the needle carrier and the uide are positive y locked together" because the roll 132 is partly in the pocket of the hub 124 of the guide and partly in the recess in the inner surface of the hub of carrier 122. As the needle advances to enter the work the roll rides over the surface of fixed stud 126 and the positive lock continues so that theguide is forced to move also, until the roll 132 reaches the recess 133 and drops thereinto sufficiently to release said roll from the recess in the inner surface of the hub of carrier 122. At this point the upper end of recess .131 reaches the fixed pin 130 and the guide is stopped; but the needle can continue, so as to perform its function, the pin 134 passing idly along the arc recess 135. The roll 132, being partly in the stud recess 133, locks-the guide to the stud. On the return movement, the guide remains locked to the stud until the recess in the hub of the carrier comes opposite the roll, and atthe same time the pin 134 reaches the rear end of arc recess 135 so that continued rearward movement toward the position shown in Fig. 8 causes the hub 124 to pull the roll out of inner recess 133 so that the roll is shifted into the outer recess in the hub of the car-v rier this again locking the two oscillating members 122, 125' together so must follow the movements until. the latter is again just the work. It will thus be seen that the needle guide is intermittently locked positively to oscillate in unison with the needle, when the latter is out of the work, and alternately therewith is positively locked in a stationary position while the needle is in the work.

The curved awl 137 is secured to a carrier 138, the hub 139 of which is mounted to oscillate on fixed stud 126. said hub having an annular groove 14() and an arm 141 one end of which extends laterally to form a lug 142 which enters the arc slot 123 of the so that as the needle carrier is actuated by the pitman 36, said carrier operates the awl by means the lug of the awl carrier, although with a lost motion that permits the awl to remain in the work until the needle is just about to enter thework.

of the needle about to enter After the awl penetrates the work on its upward movement, it is shifted laterally to effect the feed, this lateral movement being a variable one as-presently described. The awl carrier hub 139 is so mounted on the shaft 1.26 that it can be moved longitudinally thereof by means of a yoke 143 (Figs. 1 and 6) which engages the annular groove that the guide rot ating. whereby the of slot 123 and ccss 160 the disk of which the middle one, 149, is the ful crum block for the lever 146, the other two" constituting bearings for a shaft 151 which passes through all three blocks. Practically the shaft 151 constitutes the fulcrum lever 146, the block 149 serving to take up wear between the shaft and lever. Chiefly to distinguish it'from the adjustable bearing blocks or, slides 148 and 150, I refer to the slide 149 as the fulcrum block or slide. The lever 146 extends below the brackets 147 .and carries a roll 152 which is actuated by a cam groove in a hub 153 secured to main shaft 33.

Adjustment of the length of feed is effected by varying the position of the fulcrum block or slide 149. To this end, one

or more pinions 154, 155 are connected to the shaft 151, to be rotated thereby, said pinions meshing with vertical racks 156 supported bystandard 1 prefer to supply two such pinions as illustrated, in order to insure freedom of adjustment of the shaft, but do not limit myself thereto, as the pinion 155 might be emitter The pinion 154 is not directly secured to the shaft (see Fig. 13), but is connected by screws 15'? to a disk 158 which has a spline connection with the shaft and is provided with a series of peripheral notches 159 and a series of curved recesses 160. Surrounding the disk 158 is a block 161 having a straight edge bearing against the base of a rack 156 (Figs. 1, 4 and 14) whereby said block may slide vertically I but is held from rotating on the disk. Secured to the block a latch 163 which passes the block 161 to engage either one of the notches 159 of dish 158 to prevent it and its connected pinion 154 and shaft 151 from fulcrum block 119 is held in its adjusted position. Mounted on the front end of shaft 151 is a sleeve 164 having a handle 165 and a cam flange 166. he latter having a pin 167 entering one of the curved recesses 166. The sleeve. is held on theshaft by a nut 169 fitting the threaded end of the shaft. 11v turning the handle 165 to the left (see Fig. 14) the edge of the cam flange first lifts the latch 163 and then when the pin 167 reaches the end of the re- 153 is rotated so that the eu ragemci'it of pinion 154 with rack 156 will cause the shaft 151 to move upwardly, ca rrvinf! the bl oclrs 148, 149, 150 with it and resulting in shortening the length of the feed. When the cam flange 166 is moved as through a slot in for just described, it exposes the next notch 159 so thatas thedisk is then rotated, the latch 163 will drop into that exposedv notch thus limiting the adjustment of the feed to an extent prescribed by. the'distance between two notches. Of course a reverse movement ofthe handle will result ina lengthening of the feed. Turning the handle to its limit first one way and then the other will enable the feed to be quickly shifted between two prescribed limits. If it be desired to occalslonally efle'ct a greater variation of the feed, the operator may insert a finger under the up -turned end of the spring 162 and disengage the latch, then rotate the disk 158 and pinion" 154, by means of the handle 165 to the desired extent, and then lock these parts in that adjustment by letting the latch engagea notch 159. Such operation would,

.of'course, carry the cam flange away from cooperative relationship with the' latch, but by loosening the nut 168 sufl iciently to permit the pm 167 tog'be disengaged from its -recess 160, the sleeve 164 and handle and cam flange can be rotated to carry the cam flange to position to cooperate with the latch, and the pin 167 then engaged with another recess 160 and the nut 168 screwed up again. Then the same variation of the feed between two prescribed limits can be quickly effected, but said limits will be for greater or lesser lengths according to which way the sleeve and cam flange have been adjusted.

The needle thread, on its way to the takeup from a suitable spool or other source of supply not shown, passes through a tension device which I will-now describe. Referring particularly to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, a rock shaft 169 having an offset arm 170 is mounted in suitable fixed brackets 171, 172, said arm 170 having two hook-shaped projections or pins 173. Mounted at one end in the bracket 172, and at the other end in the fixed portion of the frame and parallel with the rock shaft 169 is a bar 174 which is preferably cylindrical in form as illustrated. Said bar is fixed, being supported at one end in bracket 172 and at the other end in a-portion of the frame, and'the bracket 171 is fixedly supported by said bar. A spring 175 (see dotted lines Figs. 2 and 4,) is coiled about the rock shaft .169 and is secured thereto at one end and at the other end engages the bar 174, said spring serving to press the arm 17 0 against the bar 174. Pref-v 174, around a pulley 176, under a roll 177 carried by the take-up lever 80 and then over a pulley 178, so that the'take-up, when op erating as hcreinbefore described, forms a bight or loop of-threadbet-ween the two pulleys 176, 178. The thread then passes to the mechanism presently described. The spring 175 acts with suflicient pressure to cause the tension arm 170 to firmly grip the thread to prevent it from being pulled from the source of supply when the take-up opcrates and the stitch is-b'eing tightened. The rock-shaft 169 has secured thereto an arm 1.7 9, the end of which projects into the path of movement of a beveled pin 180, projecting from the vertical shaft 41 (see Figs. 4 and 6). Said shaft rotates in thc dircction ofthearrow in Fig. 4 and when the beveled pin 180 passes the end of arm"179, it acts on the latter to rock the shaft 169in a direction to release the pressure of the tension arm 170, this occuring when the caster .52 is lengthening the loop to carry it to the position shown in Fig. 28. After the member 52 has pulled out the loop of thread and passed it partly around the shuttle 53 into the'position shown in Fig. 28, the thread will be locked again by the .member 170 and remain locked while the takeup lever 80 operates to set-the stitch. It is obvious,

therefore, that the member 52 in pulling 5 out the loop ci' thread always pulls out enough thread for the formation of the next stitch.

To cause the thread a to engage the hook ot the needle at the proper time and to be disengaged therefrom. I provide the following mechanism :Referring particularly to Figs. 5, 7 and 17 to 24 inclusive, the thread a passes from pulley 178. through an eye 181 formed in thelowcr end of a lever 182 plyoted at 183 in a bearing in the lower end of an arm 184 depending from a sleeve L85 mounted on the fixed shaft. or rodBS (Figs. 4 and 7). Another arm 186 ofsaidslecve has a roll which is acted upon by a peripheral cam 18? formed on a disk 188 secured to rotate ,with shaft 37. This structu re causes the'lev'er 182 to swing bodily forward and back so that its lower end having the thread eye will travel in the path of the arrow heads 0 in Fig. 18; Saidlower end also has a lateral motion in the direction of thearrow heads (I in said Fig. 18. this molot tion being effected by a cam rib 189 of disk j with a fork 192 separated from the portion 9 trated in Figs. 21 and 7 17. Said finger forms the tip of an upwardly and laterally curved 41 and 199 respectively,

portion of a lever 195 supported by two links 196, 197 (see Fig. 7) pivoted to standard 31 at 198 the pivotal connections of the lever with said links bein indicated at 200 and 201. To the link 19 which is shorter than link 196, there is pivoted at 202, a link 203, said pivot 202 being intermediate the pivots 199, 201. The link 203 is actuated by an arm 204 of a rock shaft 205, another arm 206 of said rock shaft having a roll which enters a cam groove 207 in one side of disk 188. Said cam groove is of an irregular formation to actuate the rock shaft andthe link 203 so that the latter, owing to its connection with the shorter link 197 as shown, will cause the finger 194 to reciprocate in the path f (Fig. 17) and to move substantially vertically in the path e,

the upward movement-1n path 6 occurring when the .lever 182 is in its rearward position as shown in Fig. 21, the finger moving from the position shown in Fig. 20 so as to take the thread a and carry it across the recess 193 above the guiding eye 181. By the descended and then 7 the path d of Fig. 18 so that the time the lever 182 has moved to the position shown in Fig.

22, the needle 121 has the short lateral movement of the tip of lever 182 occurs in thread is carried into the hook of the needle, after which the needle rises as shown in Fig. 23 and carries a loop of thread up through the work to be taken around the shuttle by the caster 52 as presently described. As the needle moves upwardly, the finger 194 follows it, as indicated by comparing Figs. 23 and 24, holding the loop sufiiciently taut to keep the thread in until the loop has been carried through the work. At the end of the forward movement of the finger it reaches and passes slightly'to the outer side of, a fixed curved in 208 mounted in the end of bracket 127 (see dotted lines Figs. 2 and 4), is coiled loop'and push it off from finger 194 to free u 209 (Figs, 1, 2, lower, laterally said loop as shown in Fig. 24. The finger then returns rearwardly and downwardly to the position shown in Figs. 19 and 20, ready for its next operation.

To remove the loop from the needle hook and transfer it to a position where it can be taken by the caster 52 and carried around the shuttle, I provide a transferring finger 3 and 7) comprising the off-set portion or arm of a vertical rock shaft 210 mounted in-a bearing the book of the needle 211 supported by a bracket or arm 212 of standard 31 (see also Fig. 4). The upper end ofthe rock shaft 210 is provided with an arm 213 which is connected by a link 214 with one arm 215 of an elbow lever pivoted to the standard 31 at 216 and having another arm 217 provided with a roll entering and actuated by a cam groove 218 in disk 188 (see dotted lines, Fig. 7).' The finger 209 simply oscillates in a curved path relatively to the axis of shaft 21.0, said path being indicated by the, arrow heads 9, Fig. 27. When it so moves, a smallhooked projection 219 (Figs. 7, 25, 26 and 27) first enters the loop, this occurring when the needle is substantially in the position shown in Fig. 24, and as the finger continues to swing horizontally, it carries the loop aside as shown'by comparing Figs. 26 and 27. At this time, the caster 52, following its rapid circular path, is approaching position to take the loop and quickly lift it away from the hook 219 and the hook of the needle. To prevent any possibility of the loop remaining in the hook of the needle, the extreme end of the finger 209 is formed with two inclined ribs or cams 220 between which is a recess for the point of the needle. The timing of the movements of these parts is such that the cam ribs 220 push the loop of thread out of the needle hook (see Fig. 27) as the hook 219 reaches the position to deflect the loop so that it will be taken by the caster 52.

The path of movement of the caster 52 is always the same, but the loop is deflected or transferred to it by the hook 219 of finger 209 only during one of a plurality of rotations, as has been explained, said caster re volving twice without engaging the thread. During the two idle rotations of the caster, the stitch is tightened, and the awl and needle perform their operations for the next stitch. Although'the caster revolves rapidly (three times during each stitch) the take-up operates quickly enough to pull the loop off from the caster 52 just after the latter passes the position shown in Fig. 28. To prevent the loop from slipping too far up on the caster when it is first engaged thereby, said caster is provided with a pin 2 21; and to prevent the loop from slipping off from the caster while being drawn up or lengthened, said'caster is formed with a groove or recess 222 in which the loop lies as shown in Fig. 28 in which figure the direction of rotation of the caster is indicated'by an arrow.

In describing the operation of the machine, I will refer, -first to Fig. 17 which indicates a stitch as having been already formed, when the awl is in the work and in 7 position for feeding, or just having fed the work along. At this time the caster of loop elongater has released the loop and the latter has been drawn tight and the caster is moving in the direction of the arrow. The

lever 182 having the eye 181 which guides the thread is at this time snbstantiallv sta tionary, and the finger is moving downwardly past it to the position shown in Fig.

19. Next the lever 182 retreats to the 'iohook of the needle coming to position so that when the lever 182 returns laterallyv in the direction of the arrow (1 in Fig. 18, the thread will be engaged by the needle which then rises to the position shown in Fig. i3 and carries the loop up'to the position. shown in Fig. 2- the finger 1M moving forwardly and givi'ng up its loo while retaining sutficient tension thereoi to hold the loop in the hook of the needle until said loop is carried through the work. As will be observed,

the two instrumentalities, via, the members 182 and 191, operate upon the'tliread below he work support 67, the operation of these ifnstriiinentalities occurring for the purpose of presenting the thread to the needle when the hook of the latter is below the work and work-support. The two other instrumentalities which coiiperate with the thread while the needle is above the work and work support, comprise the caster or loop elongater 52 and the finger 209 which transfers the loop to said caster Shortly'after the needle rises to the. position shown in Fig. 21, the hook or lug 213) of the finger Q09 engages one side of the loop, Fig. 25. showing it as just about ready to so engage the loop. The linger 209 then moves to the position shown in Fig. QTwhich is a detail plan View partly in section, one side of the loop being carried aside or deflected to a position to be taken by the rapidly revolv: ing caster Fig. 26 illustrates how one side of the loop is lifted or dctiecteo to position torthe tip of the men'iber to enter it. Said caster or elongating membisr 5Q, revolving in the direction of the ai"ri' ws. (Figs. 26 and 28) carries th loop to point a little bevoiid the upper portion ot' the stationary shuttle, after which the takcaip lever 80 (Fig. 5. descends to pull the loop oft from the mom 52 and tightens the stitch, the parts at such time being in the position indicated in Fig. 17, preparing for the formation of the next stitch.

I claim:

1. In a sewing machine, a stitch forming mechanism including a shuttle, a needle, a. loop caster movable in a circular path with a plate, oi? means below the work plate for de around the shuttle with its thread engaging recess always facing in the same direction,

-incans for imparting to said caster a plii-' rality of such motions during each operation oi the needle, means for deflecting the inedle thread into the path of the caster during oiie ot said pl iirality of ii'iotioiis. and means "for tightening the loop after it is released by the caster.

In a sewing machine, a stitch forming mechanism, inclui'ling a shuttle, a needle and a loop caster tor-taking the loop from the needle and casting it over the shuttle, a gea r and means for rotat ng it, two pinions of smaller size than said gear and meshing with it, crank arms connected with said pinions, the caster having a shank connected with said crank arms, and means for tighteiiing the loop after it is carri d over the shuttle by the caster.

, $3. In a sewing machine, a'stitch forming mechanism including a shuttle, a needle, a loop caster having meansfor rotating it around the shuttle a plurality of times til" or transl'errer for delivering the loop from the needle to the caster ata point in one of the rotations of the caster, and means for tightening the loop.

1'. In a sewing machine, the combination hooked need e, a shuttle and a work liveiring thread to the hook otthe needle and means above the work plate'for removing thethread from the hook of the needle and carrying it around the shuttle, the means below the work plate comprising a laterally movable thread guide, a lever having a finger for holding the thread in the hook of the needle as the latter rises through the work, two links of dill erent lengths for supporting said tin lii er. and means connected with the .;l ortcr or" said links at a ends for s *inging saidlink,

point between it the means above the work plate comprising a finger for deflecting the loop from the needle and a caster to engage the loop and carry it over the shuttle.

In a sewing machine, th combination with a hooked needle and a work plate of a lever having its end provided with a thread eye, a pivotally mounted arm carrying the fulcrum of said lever, means for oscillating the arm in one plane to cause the end of the lever to swing toward and from the point of the needle, means for osoillating the lever in another plane to cause the said eye to carry the thread into the hook of said needle, a loop-drawing finger movable across the path of movement of the said eye, and means for actuatingsaid finger timed to cause it to hold the loop taut and in the hook of the needle.

6. In a sewing machine, the combinationwith a hooked needle and a work plate, of

mg each operation of the needle, a deflector a lever having its end provided with a. thread e e, a pivotally mounted arm carrying the lcrutn ofsaid lever, means for oscillating the arm in .one plane to'cause the end of the lever to swing toward and from the point of the needle, means for oscillating 7. In a sewing machine the combination with a hooked needle and a work plate, of a lever having its end provided'with a thread eye and a recess above said eye, means for imparting to said lever a motion to cause its end to move laterally and also forward and back, a lever having a finger to engage the thread and carry it across the recess in the end of the first mentioned lever, two links of different lengths for supporting said finger lever, and means connected with the shorter of said links at a point between its ends for swinging said link and imparting to the finger lever both vertical and forward and back motions. i a

8. In a sewing machine the combination with a hooked needle and a work plate, of a lever having its end providedwith a thread eye, means for actuating said lever-to inipart to its'end'both lateral and forward and back motions, a finger movable in a path to deflect-the threa relatively to the eye loop from said finger.

9. In a sewing machine'the combination 40 with a hooked needle and means for engag ing a thread with the hook of the needle below the work, of a shuttle above the work, a caster for taking the loop of thread over the Thuttle, and a transferrer for removing'the 00 an engaging it with said caster, said transferrer comprising a rock shaft having a substantially vertical axis and having a lower ofiset portion provided with means for engaging the loop, and means for actuating said rock shaft.

10. In a sewing machine, the combination with a hooked needle and means for engagof thread from the hook of the needle i ing a thread with the hook of the needle be-' low the work, of a shuttle above the work, a caster for taking the loop of thread over the shuttle, and a transferrer for removing the loop ,of thread from the hook of the needle and engaging it with said caster, said .60

transferrer comprising a finger, a rock shaft carrying said finger, and means for operating said rock shaft, the said finger havin a hook to engage the loop held bythe nee le" and having also an inclined or cam portion to dislodge the loop from the hook ofthe needle.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature, in presence of 'two witnesses.

EDWARD ERICKSON.

lVitnesses G. F. BROWN, P. W. PEZZE'I'II. 

